Marla Adams, 'Young and the Restless' Star, Dead at 85
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Marla Adams, the soap opera actress known for playing Dina Abbott Mergeron on The Young and the Restless has died. She was 85.
The news of her death was shared by the show's director of media and talent Matt Kane, who shared with TMZ that Adams passed away in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 26.
A cause of death has not been disclosed to the public at this time.
Adams first joined The Young and the Restless as the Abbott matriarch in 1983 but left after her three-year contract ended. She returned for various brief stints in 1991, 1996 and 2008, before she returned full-time in 2017.
Her character, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the script, eventually died in an October 2020 episode. That performance would later lead her to win her only Daytime Emmy in 2021.
We send our deepest sympathies to Marla Adams’ family. We’re so grateful and in awe of Marla’s incredible performance as Dina Abbott Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&R. pic.twitter.com/M4uHXdm8fP
— Young & The Restless (@YRInsider) April 26, 2024
Following the news of her death, the executive producer and head writer for The Young and the Restless spoke out in a statement to honor Adams' life and her work on the long-running soap.
"We send our deepest sympathies to Marla Adams' family," his statement read. "We're so grateful and in awe of Marla's incredible performance as Dina Abbott Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&R."
Longtime The Young and the Restless actress, Kate Linder, also shared a message on social media to memorialize Adams, calling it "an honor to have known and worked with her for many years!"
My heart and love go out to the friends and family of #MarlaAdams. It has been an honor to have known and worked with her for many years! @YRInsider #yr51 She will be sorely missed. #rip pic.twitter.com/jOELx4QT5n
— KATE LINDER (@KATELINDER) April 27, 2024
Before her work in TV and film, Adams, a native of Ocean City, N.J., had a career competing in beauty pageants. She was named runner-up in the Miss New Jersey pageant in 1954, before going on to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She would later appear on Broadway in the 1958 production of The Visit, before making her big-screen debut in 1961's Splendor in the Grass, which also starred Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood.
Her other credits include TV's The Secret Storm, Generations, The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives.
Adams is survived by her daughter, Pam Oates, her son, Gunnar Garat, her grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone, and her great-grandson, Remi.
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